Loved this trail- a perfect mix of up and down! At the end…read moreof the trail is the park- get a drink of water there, then turn around to walk back- several views worth seeing- watched the birds and enjoyed the nature!

Goat Rock is a fairly short climb but it is a steep one and you need to be extremely careful as a…read moreslip on this slope could be a big problem. As you ascend, there are a number of switch backs which aid in the steep ascent, you should be in fairly good shape before you attempt this particular climb. Once at the top, there is a beautiful view of the pioneer valley and the towns of Hampden, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow ,Springfield and parts of CT. The best time of the year to climb the mountain is in the Fall when the foliage is at its peak, it can breathe taking in its beauty.

Amazing spot for a winter walk. Home to many species. Keep a sharp lookout for some as you make…read moreyour journey.

Nice views of lakes, wild birds, like swans, geese, ducks, and the beautiful / colorful forrestread more

It's a winner. It's a proper hike with a good incline up to a meadow. If you wanted you could turn…read morearound there, or head to the sunrise view which makes for more incline. There are more options to add trails and make your hike longer or shorter. The views are lovely and the trail was well marked. It was a little muddy on this April Sunday but all in all, not bad. Recommend!

Scenic, relaxing and invigorating. A great escape that I can't recommend enough. My only complaint…read moreis parking is a bit of pain with limited space.

At the suggestion of a docent at the Notch visitor center, we drove up to the Mt. Holyoke Summit…read moreHouse (as we were too pooped and time-pressed to make the 4.5 mile hike on the Metacom trail and ascent). Although the drive up can be a little tight and curvy with hairpin curves and steep drop offs, once at the summit, it was gorgeous. Spectacular views of the Connecticut River and wonderful nooks and crannies and glades among the boulders and trees for tranquil picnics and just plain gazing. The Summit House itself was still closed for the season, but its veranda was open for viewing the scenery and had some useful maps pointing out geographical highlights (also convenient: its restrooms were open, so nice to be able to refresh oneself). There's also a somber memorial dedicated to a WW2 flight crew that lost their lives on the mountain top. Simply beautiful! I would suggest going midweek to avoid the crowds if possible as the roadway is quite narrow and parking could be limited.

This park was a staple for my family and I growing up in the area! It's a playground and dog park…read morecombined by a large field that stretches the entire street. The street parking nearby is free, and there are bike racks for anyone that needs them. The neighbors in that area were always very kind to me, but it's also important to be aware of their families and privacy. It's not a place for large group gatherings or non-residents to host events. There are water fountains, waste disposal, and lots of seating, but there are not picnic tables or public restrooms. It's a beautiful park and I always make it a stop on my walks!

So overall Chicopee is a dump, and I didn't know they had a state park and I was pleasantly…read moresurprised. The staff was super nice and it really is a great "in-town" spot to go to just unwind and get away from everything. They have fishing and a great area to bring family (there were a ton of kids) so I would definitely give this place a 5 star.

I am staying at a hotel nearby and needed to walk the Beloved Goldendoodle before going to a…read morewedding this afternoon (translation: get him some exercise so he will sleep this afternoon, plus a bit of exercise for me so I can have extra dessert). I couldn't find anything on Yelp (horrors!) so I looked on Google and came across the park/info on https://www.mass.gov/locations/chicopee-memorial-state-park I was a little confused and thought the park entrance fee was for today as well, so I rummaged through my wallet and off we went (it seems it is only Memorial Day through Labor Day when people can SWIM in the reservoir). The boy and I had a nice walk for just under an hour, passed several runners (well, they passed us) and a bicyclist at 8:15 am, plus a few people with their dogs (keep them on the leash everyone.... and pickup after your fluffiest friends). There are picnic areas, a beach area (looks nice) and even one brave soul who was swimming in this morning's 60 degree temp (but the water could still be warm after the hot summer). There are bathrooms (did not go in, but just across from the swimming area) and 562 acres for you to roam through. Happy we found this, never realized I was passing it zooming by on the Mass Pike all these years.

I t is not easy to find a park that is so open to all sorts of people/family activities as well as…read moredogs that complete their family. the incredible job done on the go park provides a variety of comforts for all dogs; the small dog area provides a safe environment for the comfort of small dogs; the enlarged dog area has activities for the dogs, plenty of balls and toys for them. The new pavilion is impressive--the park group worked to provide a comfortable spot for dog owners while the dogs play. Water is available to the dogs is owners pump it form the available well or they can bring their own. Poop bags are provided but owners make the $$$ of keeping up the park less if they bring their own bags. PROBLEM: CERTAIN OWNERS REFUSE TO PICK UP THEIR DOG'S POOP, LEAVING A MESS FOR OTHER USERS OF THE PARK. NO REQUESTS TO PICK UP YOUR DOG'S POOP HAVE BEEN HONORED. A fabulous place for the whole family, trees, grass, sun, shade, and the playground will be updated eventually The funny thing about the park signs is that they are small/over grown, or too old, and the large one on Kendall Street actually faces across the street, looking into trees and shrubs. No one is going to find that park opening easily :)

This park is hard to find, i was told to look up dufresbe park and park there and then walk down…read more Either way, I think I cam in from Taylor street and even then, it was still a bit of a walk. If you are coming and it's winter with snow in the ground, DO NOT come unless if you are driving a truck with four wheel drive or snow tire. Otherwise you will be stuck and can't get out. The roads are dirt road and they are not plowed. This happened to me as I took a risk driving a sedan in, kind souls at the playground accompanying their kids helped me to dig my car out of the snow. I would never want anyone else to go through my traumatic experience. It's a nice park I think, at least my dog had a blast there. There is a golden doodle that frequents here and he has a ton of energy and is a goof, my dog loved him. There is a picnic table to sit at. I dont recall there being toys there since it was the winter when i was there and the ground was covered with snow. There is only 1 section no small/large dog area.

It had been over a decade since I'd visited this laurel sanctuary, and I've kept meaning to get…read moreback. It wasn't til we moved much closer that I finally returned with my husband this weekend (late July 2022), and it's now in our top five local places to walk/relax. The mountain laurel is Connecticut's state flower, and they usually bloom from late spring to early summer, so the blooms were long gone but that was hardly the point. We were here to check out the walking and eat a little packed snack. The turn into the sanctuary going east on route 190 is easy to see (sign faces you at the entrance, pictured below) but comes up fast. The road's name is Snow Hill Rd., but I didn't see any signage at this entrance. We drove down until we passed 4 picnic tables on the left, on grassy areas you could pull a car or two onto. There's a turnaround/possible parking area just after the last table. I'd suggest not going further, as the road turns to a bumpy, hilly, unimproved road that eventually leads to a turn we didn't take (which is where we saw a handmade sign marking "Snow Hill Rd." Back at the turnaround, we returned to the level road and stopped at one of the picnic tables. After a little bug spray, we set off. I'm mobility-challenged, but can walk for short stretches on a level surface with mild increases/decreases. The long, tree-lined gravel road was exactly what I was looking for. From the picnic table to the entrance was just over half a mile. Again, a slight sloping up and down, nothing taxing. I'd think one could use a motorized wheelchair or any wheelchair with good tires. Back at the picnic table, we enjoyed the watermelon we'd packed, basking in the afternoon sun and remarking how peaceful the place was. This was a gorgeous CT summer Saturday and while we were there (2-4pm) we saw a total of four people just walking the road themselves or with their leashed dogs. If you're looking for a little peace & quiet nestled in the woods (along with a lovely walk), this is your place. A true hidden gem of a spot. A few things to note: 1. There are no outhouses/toilets here 2. There's no garbage bins, so carry in/carry out 3. You're sharing a road with others cars and walkers, so keep it slow and safe 4. If you want to see blooming laurels, try late spring and early summer Have a beautiful day!

Beautiful and quaint place to stop for a picnic and nature walks. Come when it's fall and you are…read moresure to get a beautiful view here of the changing leaves.